Your HVAC system can be a blessing most of the time. Even though you will find many homes having an HVAC system already there, eventually it will need to be replaced or made better. Understanding how to properly maintain your system will help you out when it comes to repairs. Here are some tips to follow.

Know the name and type of your HVAC system before looking for a repair person. Learn the brand and the model. This will give contractor’s a better idea of what to expect before they show up, which will help things go more smoothly on arrival.

Make sure your condenser fan is in good working order by wiping down the fan blades and the coils. Make sure to turn off the fan’s power first to be safe. Then, pop off its grills, pull the blades out, and begin cleaning the unit and them gently.

If you are having issues with your HVAC, do a tour of your house before you call in help. Jot down the rooms that are hot and the ones that are cold. This will help your contractor quickly determine where the issue lies and how to get it fixed quickly and easily.

Grass Clippings

Avoid showering your outdoor unit with grass clippings when you mow the lawn. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. The same goes for when you blow leaves, so make sure your are careful when moving any debris in the vicinity of your HVAC devices.

When the leaves start to fall, the HVAC equipment can be harmed. Clean the fan grill often when leaves are falling. When the fan becomes obstructed, you will lose out on quality air.

Outdoor condenser units need to be cleaned regularly. Excess debris can really affect your system’s quality. Debris like this can cause it to overheat, which could be detrimental to your system.

If you are choosing where to place your outdoor compressor device, try to put it in a place where there is plenty of shade. If you have a unit taking in air that’s cooler, it won’t have to work so hard to cool air that it sends to your home.

Put outdoor condensers in the shade. This will help you save on your energy bill.

During cold weather , be sure to turn off outdoor condenser units. This should be done when the temperature drops below 60ÂºF to avoid damage. This will help keep your HVAC system in good health for years, which means you will save on repair bills.

Make sure clippings don’t get on your outdoor units when your mowing your lawn. Get the grass shot away from your unit. This also applies to blowing leaves or moving debris. Just be careful with that exterior HVAC unit.

Having a programmable thermostat installed is a money saving idea. It may save you as much as 10 percent of your overall utility bill if you turn your thermostat down by 10-15 degrees for a portion of the day. There are also some programmable thermostats that can be controlled with a computer or other web-connected advice.

To help keep your energy costs down, have your heating and cooling system serviced at least once a year. During your service visit, the serviceman will inspect the unit’s motor, oil the unit’s moving parts and ensure the unit has proper freon levels. This will keep you energy efficient and comfortable.

If you are going to be gone during the day or on vacation, turn the temperature up on your air conditioning unit. When it’s off the house will get hot, but only by a certain amount. Leaving the system on all day will cost a lot of money in terms of electricity.

Look for shade when placing a compressor outdoors. The cooler air entering the unit will require less work to get to the proper temperature.

Don’t let your home get too hot. An air conditioning unit is really only able to reduce the temperature by twenty degrees in a short time span. If the temperature in your home rises above 100 degrees, you will only be able to cool it down to 80. If humidity is high, this temp is still unsafe for people.

Make sure to make a well-informed decision on the size of your HVAC. If the unit is too large, it won’t cool more than a smaller unit, just less efficiently. Look at the manual for more information.

Make certain that you get written estimates before you hire a contractor. Making some phone calls before deciding is a good way to save money. Ideally, five or six contractors should be called so you can get a good ball park figure of a reasonable rate.

To boost the efficiency of your HVAC system, you should put your unit in a shady place. Your air conditioner won’t have to work so hard if the air is sucks in is already cool.

To help your heating and cooling system run efficiently, install a radiant barrier in your attic. This mechanism will prevent outside heat from coming in, reducing your energy consumption when cooling. If this is installed correctly, it will give you the ability to actually use your attic as extra space to live in.

Are you thinking about buying a new HVAC system? There are many things to consider. Learn about the size systems need to be for optimal efficiency. It is probably wiser to purchase a system that is slightly larger than what you think you need rather than one that is smaller.

Make an HVAC system run more efficiently by determining what direction your house faces. Block the sun in the morning with trees around your home. If there is less heat coming into your home, then your air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard.

Make sure your HVAC systems is checked twice a year. The best times to have the system checked is spring and fall, so you are sure everything is running at peak performance before the heating and cooling seasons. Even if you do not detect a problem, you can identify and fix any potential problems when you have it checked.

Square Footage

Measuring the space you want to cool is the first step to figure how large of an air conditioner you need. You will need about 20 BTU per square footage of the room. If you have a lot of rooms to keep cool, get their square footage added together.

Prior to hiring any HVAC contractor, you ought to ask about their level of experience. He or she may not have experience working with your type of system or performing the work that you need done. While you may not know if a worker with no experience will work well or not, it’s not a good idea to take a chance with this.

If you can, install double-paned windows throughout your home. Try to insulate your windows to prevent air from being lost. It also facilitates heat retention in winter.

When hiring a contractor, be sure to ask for a list of references. This will show you their overall experience. Also, it will prevent you from getting robbed.

Always check out any references that are given to you by an HVAC contractor. Many people make the mistake of assuming references are legitimate just because they were give up freely, but this is not always the case. Never hesitate to spend a few moments making calls to check out someone.

Investing in your HVAC is a must. When the time comes to replace your system or buy a new one, keep the above tips in mind. You’ll quickly find that the info will help you make a much more easy decision next time with your HVAC unit.

One great way to save some cash when you’re working on keeping a home cool is to install a thermostat that’s programmable. These convenient thermostats may shave ten percent or more off of your bills, because they significantly cut energy use when you’re not around. You can often control it from your mobile phone!

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